Lady Bulldogs to offer unmatched effort, fire

After a 2017-18 season that ended in a 12-21 record, Bald Knob girls basketball coach Katie Cooper said she is ready to see what 2018-19 holds for her girls. “Overall, I expect our team to play with great chemistry and with unmatched effort this season,” Cooper said. “We will never be the biggest team as far as size, but I think our girls bring an intensity and a fire to the floor every night that will allow them to compete against anyone.” Returning starters for the Lady Bulldogs include juniors Kahlan Gracey and Taegen Mason; and seniors Kinlee Varnell, Madi Pierce and Hailey Byers, who is recovering from a torn ACL. “Taegen Mason gained valuable playing experience as a sophomore last year and will be ready to really contribute this year on both ends of the floor. She showed in the postseason what a dominating rebounder she can be,” Cooper said. “Varnell is absolutely fearless. She’s a great floor leader and does a fantastic job of scoring from the point-guard position.” Pierce will be changing from inside to outside position this year to prepare her for the position she’ll be playing in college, the coach said. What college is she going to? “She’s a force on the boards and has a beautiful outside shot,” Cooper said. Gracey started every game as a sophomore last year and is one of the best defenders on the team. Additionally, junior Sydney Roach was “the surprise of last season,” Cooper said, as she showed what she was made of and played with confidence last year. Sophomore Mikayla Shaw was one of the best junior high players last year, Cooper said, and will make an immediate impact on the senior high team. Coming back this year is sophomore

Brooke Glaze, who took a year off and is expected to get a lot of playing time, the coach said. “She is a multitalented athlete, participating in both cheer and golf, in addition to basketball. She has great court vision and will be one of our best passers,” Cooper said. All three tournaments the Lady Bulldogs will participate in — Joe T. Robinson in November, Lyon College in early December and the Lonoke Invitational over Christmas break — will feature traditionally talented girls basketball teams, but Cooper is confident the Lady Bulldogs will come out of the season with a good record. “I believe we will exceed our success from last year,” the coach said. “With everyone back and lots of individual improvement made over the summer, we should take huge steps forward this season.”